Torture of Renaissance England

The most common crimes of the Nobility included: high treason, blasphemy, sedition, spying, rebellion, alchemy, murder and witchcraft. Many crimes committed by commoners were through sheer desperation and miserable poverty. The most common crimes were: theft, cut purses, begging, poaching, adultery, debtors, forgers, fraud and dice coggers.

Theft for stealing anything over 5 pence resulted in hanging. Small crimes such as stealing bird’s eggs could result in the death sentence. Punishment for poaching crimes differed according to when the crime was committed. Poaching at night resulted in the punishment by death, however, poaching during the day time did not.

Beggars would be beaten until they reached the stones that marked the town parish boundary. Other punishments included execution by burning and beheading. The punishment of Death by the axe was a terrifying prospect. The Elizabethan executioners often took several blows before the head was finally severed. The punishment of death by Execution was often held in public and witnessed by many people.

Following the execution the severed head was held up by the hair by the executioner. This was done to show the crowd the head, but was also done to show the head the crowd and its own body.

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